Puzzle game

ABSTRACT

A puzzle game includes a Playing Grid and a plurality of Playing Pieces. The Playing Grid contains an array of Nodes, and a subset of said Nodes are designated as Anchors. Also included in the Playing Grid are a network of Branches interconnecting said nodes. A Playing Piece is a single geometric arrangement that corresponds to a contiguous pattern of Nodes. The object of the game is to place the Playing Pieces upon the Playing Grid without intersecting each other, the Anchors, or the edge of the Playing Grid, in such a way as to create a connected path from one Anchor to any other.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The invention is directed to games, and more specifically to games ofskill used by one or more players for enjoyment as well as forexercising the mind through progressive and continual challenges.

2. Description of Related Art

There exist a large variety of game categories including card games,board games, multi-player games, single-player games, arcade games,computer games, and the like. Popular game categories include puzzlesand “mind-games” where the player must strategize or think throughvarious levels of challenges that are presented. The games can be playedalone or with others. In addition to enjoyment, the games develop valuedattributes such as planning, critical thinking and strategicdecision-making.

Some puzzles and mind-games are geared towards a novice audience, whileothers are directed at an expert audience. It is difficult to create agame that combines straight-forward rules with various levels ofcomplexity that would appeal to young and old alike.

Accordingly, there is a need for puzzles and games that are fun to playand that can increase in challenge for a wide range of users.

SUMMARY

The object of the present invention is to provide a game that is fun toplay and has straight-forward rules, while developing critical thinkingattributes. Another object of the present invention is to create apuzzle game and method of playing in which the user is continuallychallenged using starting scenarios having different levels ofcomplexity. Yet another object of the present invention is to create apuzzle game and method of playing that can be used and enjoyed by a widevariety of users, both in age and skill level.

In one example, the puzzle game comprises a Playing Grid and a pluralityof Playing Pieces, said Playing Grid comprising an array of Nodeswherein a subset of said Nodes are designated as Anchors and a networkof Branches interconnecting said nodes,

wherein a Playing Piece is a single geometric arrangement thatcorresponds to a contiguous pattern of Nodes, and wherein the object orgoal of the game is to place the Playing Pieces upon the Playing Grid bylaying each of said Playing Pieces directly over a Contiguous Path ofNodes and Branches in order to connect all of the Anchors with a singleconnected Contiguous Path.

In another example, a method for playing a puzzle game comprises thesteps of providing a Playing Grid, said Playing Grid comprising an arrayof Nodes wherein a subset of said Nodes are designated as Anchors andcomprising a network of Branches interconnecting said Nodes, providing aplurality of Playing Pieces, placing a Playing Piece on the Playing Gridand creating a Contiguous Path that contains all of the said Anchors,wherein a Playing Piece is a single geometric arrangement thatcorresponds to a contiguous pattern of Nodes, and wherein the object orgoal of the game is to place the Playing Pieces upon the Playing Grid bylaying each of said Playing Pieces directly over a Contiguous Path ofNodes and Branches in order to connect all of the Anchors with a singleconnected Contiguous Path.

In another example, a method for creating a puzzle game comprises thesteps of providing a Playing Grid, said Playing Grid comprising an arrayof Nodes wherein a subset of said Nodes are designated as Anchors andcomprising a network of Branches interconnecting said Nodes, providing aplurality of Playing Pieces, wherein a Playing Piece is a singlegeometric arrangement that corresponds to a contiguous pattern of Nodes,and wherein the object or goal of the game is to place the PlayingPieces upon the Playing Grid by laying each of said Playing Piecesdirectly over a Contiguous Path of Nodes and Branches in order toconnect all of the Anchors with a single connected Contiguous Path.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The followings drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a partof the specification, serve to explain the principles of the presentinvention when they are taken together with the general descriptiongiven above and the detailed description of the preferred embodimentsgiven below. Moreover, the aforementioned objects and advantages of thepresent invention, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof,will become apparent when consideration is given to the followingdetailed description which should be read in conjunction with thefollowing drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a Game Sheet depicting a Playing Gridcomprising a rectangular array of square cell Nodes and an associatedgroup of Playing Pieces in the form of linear strings of adjacent squarecells.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the Playing Grid of FIG. 1 with five AnchorPoints illustrating the concept of Path Connectors and two of thePlaying Pieces forming a connected Contiguous Path.

FIG. 3 a shows a portion of the Playing Grid of FIG. 2, with a PlayingPiece positioned upon the Playing Grid without forming a connectedContiguous Path.

FIG. 3 b shows a portion of the Playing Grid of FIG. 2, with a PlayingPiece positioned upon the Playing Grid so as to form a connectedContiguous Path between some Anchors.

FIG. 3 c shows a portion of the Playing Grid of FIG. 2, with a PlayingPiece positioned upon the Playing Grid so as to form a connectedContiguous Path between some Anchors in a way distinct from FIG. 3 b.

FIG. 4 a shows the placement of two Playing Pieces intersecting eachother.

FIG. 4 b shows the placement of a Playing Piece intersecting an Anchor.

FIG. 4 c shows the placement of a Playing Piece which is not alignedwith the boundaries of the Playing Grid.

FIG. 4 d shows the placement of a Playing Piece extending beyond theexterior boundaries of the Playing Grid.

FIG. 5 a shows another example of a Game Sheet containing a Playing Gridwhich contains circular Nodes instead of rectangular Nodes and PlayingPieces which have circular ends.

FIG. 5 b shows the Playing Grid of FIG. 5 a with a Playing Piece placedconnecting some Anchors.

FIG. 6 a shows another example of a Game Sheet containing a Playing Gridwhich contains dots for Nodes and line segments for Branches instead ofrectangular Nodes and Playing Pieces which are geometrical arrangementsof the Dots.

FIG. 6 b shows the Playing Grid of FIG. 6 a with a Playing Piece placedconnecting some Anchors.

FIG. 7 shows a Playing Grid containing a Barrier Node.

FIG. 8 shows a Playing Grid containing a Barrier Branch.

FIG. 9 shows a set of Playing Pieces which are not linear.

FIG. 10 a shows a variant of the Playing Grid of FIG. 1 with a hexagonalstructure instead of a rectangular one.

FIG. 10 b shows a variant of the Playing Grid of FIG. 5 a with ahexagonal structure instead of a rectangular one.

FIG. 10 c shows a variant of the Playing Grid of FIG. 5 b with ahexagonal structure instead of a rectangular one.

FIG. 10 d shows a variant of the playing grid of FIG. 1 with anoctagonal structure instead of a rectangular one

FIG. 10 e shows a variant of the Playing Grid of FIG. 5 a with the Nodeshaving no points of contact.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 1, comprises a GameSheet 100, a Playing Grid 200 which is represented by a rectangulararray of square cell Nodes 300 printed upon the Game Sheet, wherein twoor more of the Nodes are marked by indicia 301 to indicate that they areAnchors 302, and further comprises a group of three Playing Pieces PP1,PP2, PP3, wherein the Playing Pieces are graphically depicted upon theGame Sheet as linear strings of adjacent square cells. Contained in thePlaying Grid 200 are a set of Branches 400, representing the boundariesbetween the nodes 300. Branches link two Nodes together, allowing themto form Path Connectors.

It should be appreciated, that while the Game Sheet of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 may be an ordinary sheet of paper, it may also be one leaf in apad of paper, a part of a newspaper or magazine page, a rigid board, acomputer screen or any other suitable surface upon which a Playing Gridmay be superimposed or otherwise graphically represented. It should alsobe appreciated, that although the embodiment of FIG. 1 has a PlayingGrid comprising six rows and seven columns of square cell Nodes, thePlaying Grid may comprise any number of rows and columns of Nodes sothat the Playing Grid fills just a small portion of the Game Sheet oreven the entire Game Sheet. Furthermore, while FIG. 1 shows exactlythree Playing Pieces which are two, three, and four cells in length, itshould be appreciated, that there may be any number of Playing Piecesand that the Playing Pieces may be of any equal or unequal lengths.Additionally, while the Playing Pieces of this embodiment of the presentinvention are shown as graphical representations on the surface of theGame Sheet, they may in other cases be physical items which the playermay manually manipulate and place over the Playing Grid to aid invisualizing a solution to the puzzle.

The object or goal of the solitaire game of the present invention is fora Player to align the Playing Pieces upon the Playing Grid in such amanner as to link all of the Anchors into one connected Contiguous Pathcomprising the Anchors, the Playing Pieces, and Path Connectors linkingthe Anchors and Playing Pieces to each other, where a Path Connector isa Branch common to two Anchors, a Branch common to two Playing Pieces,or a Branch common to an Anchor and Playing Piece, and a Contiguous Pathis a set of Nodes and Path Connectors which are connected to each other.

This concept is illustrated in FIG. 2 which depicts the Playing Grid andone possible placement upon the Playing Grid of two of the PlayingPieces PP2 and PP3 of FIG. 1. To further aid in the followingdescription, FIG. 2 shows the Playing Grid with its columns labeled withthe capital letters A, B, C, . . . and its rows labeled with thenumerals 1, 2, 3, . . . so that the individual Nodes of the Playing Gridmay be identified by their row and column labels (i.e. Node F4 refers tothe square cell Node located at the intersection of column f and row 4).In the example of FIG. 2 it can be seen that Playing Piece PP2 isvertically aligned with Nodes C3, C4, and C5, and Playing Piece PP3 ishorizontally aligned with Nodes D5, E5, F5, and G5.

Now, looking at the Playing Grid of FIG. 2 five Path Connectors can beseen; the first Path Connector PC1 being the common edge between theadjacent Anchors D2 and D3, the second Path Connector PC2 being thecommon boundary length between Anchor D3 and Playing Piece PP2, thethird Path Connector PC3 being the common edge between Playing Piece PP2and Playing Piece PP3, the fourth Path Connector PC4 being the commonedge between Anchor C6 and Playing Piece PP2, and the fifth PathConnector PC5 being the common boundary length between Anchor C6 andPlaying Piece PP3.

In this case it can be seen that there is a connected Contiguous Pathlinking the four Anchors D2, D3, C6, and G6, said path comprising fivePath Connectors PC1 (linking Anchor D2 to Anchor D3, PC2 (linking AnchorD3 to Playing Piece PP2), PC3 (linking Playing Piece PP2 to Anchor C6),PC4 (linking Playing Piece PP2 to Playing Piece PP3), and PC5 (linkingPlaying Piece PP3 to Anchor G6).

The connected Contiguous Path shown in FIG. 2 traces along and acrossAnchor D2, Path Connector PC1, Anchor D3, Path Connector PC2, PlayingPiece PP2, Path Connector PC3, Anchor C6, Path Connector PC4, PlayingPiece PP3, Path Connector PC5, and Anchor G6. However, this path doesnot link to the fifth Anchor F1 shown on the Playing Grid and istherefore not a complete solution to the game.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 a, 3 b, and 3 c, various attempts to form acomplete solution to the game illustrated in FIG. 2 are shown byappropriately placing the last Playing Piece PP1 upon the Playing Grid.Specifically, it can be seen in FIG. 3 a which shows a portion of thePlaying Grid of FIG. 2, that Playing Piece PP1 has been located to alignvertically with Nodes E2 and E3. In this case there is still not a validsolution to the puzzle game of FIG. 2 because Anchor F1 is still notpart of a connected contiguous path linked to the other four AnchorPoints. The reason is that there is no common edge or boundary betweenthe Playing Piece PP1 and the Anchor F1 (i.e. they only make contact ortouch at a corner point CP) and therefore there is no Path Connectorlinking Playing Piece PP1 to Anchor G6.

In FIG. 3 b Playing Piece PP1 is placed horizontally in alignment withNodes D1 and E1. In this case, Anchor F1 is now part of a connectedcontiguous path linked to the other four Anchor Points via the PathConnectors PC6 and PC7 as shown and the game is solved.

In FIG. 3 c there is another solution to the present game whereinPlaying Piece PP1 has been placed horizontally to align with Nodes E2and F2. In this case, Anchor F1 is again part of a connected contiguouspath linked to the other four Anchor Points, this time via the PathConnectors PC8 and PC9 as shown and therefore another solution to thisgame has been found.

In general a game of the present invention may have a single uniquesolution or multiple solutions as shown in FIGS. 3 b and 3 c for theembodiment of FIG. 2 above.

As described, the rules of play for the solitaire game of the presentinvention involve strategically placing some or all of the PlayingPieces upon the Playing Grid so as to form a single connected contiguouspath that links all of the Anchors together via Playing Pieces and PathConnectors. However, for more challenging play, in the preferredembodiments of this invention, the positioning of the Playing Pieces isgenerally subject to certain restrictions and limitations.

A preferred restriction is that Playing Pieces may not intersect eachother. This is shown in FIG. 4 a where the Playing Pieces PP2 and PP3invalidly intersect each other on Node E6.

Another preferred restriction is that Playing Pieces may not intersectAnchors. This is shown in FIG. 4 b where the Playing Piece PP2 invalidlyintersects Node D3.

Another preferred restriction is that Playing Pieces must align with theBranches. This is shown in FIG. 4 c where the Playing Piece PP1 does notproperly align with Nodes E1 and E3.

Another preferred restriction is that Playing Pieces may not intersectthe edge of the Playing Grid. This is shown in FIG. 4 d where thePlaying Piece PP3 invalidly intersects the edge of the Playing Grid PGE.

It will of course be appreciated that while the aforementionedrestrictions on the placement of the Playing Pieces are preferred, theymay, in other embodiments, be augmented with additional restrictions,relaxed, or eliminated in order to make the game more or lesschallenging.

In FIG. 5 a there is another embodiment of the present invention similarto the embodiment of FIG. 1 except that in the Game Sheet 110 thePlaying Grid 210 comprises a rectangular array of circular cells ratherthan square cells wherein each Node 310 is represented by a circle andthe Playing Pieces PP4, PP5, and PP6 are rectangles of various lengthswith semicircles at the end of each rectangle length, and are meant torepresent the set of circular Nodes that would be contained in saidshape. In this case, Anchors 312 are indicated by indicia 311 as usual,but the Branches 410 are the points of contact between two Nodes. Forexample, in FIG. 5 b it can be seen that Playing Piece PP5 has beenplaced on the Playing Grid of FIG. 5 a, having ends on Nodes C3 and C5.Playing Piece PP5 forms Path Connectors PC10 and PC11, creating aContiguous Path between Anchors C6, D3, and D2.

In FIG. 6 a there is yet another embodiment of the present inventionsimilar to the embodiment of FIG. 1 except that in the Game Sheet 120the Playing Grid 220 comprises a rectangular array of dots rather thansquare cells where in each Node 320 is represented by a dot and thePlaying Pieces PP7, PP8, and PP9 are geometrical arrangements of varyingnumbers of dots. In this case, Anchors 322 are indicated by indicia 321as usual, but the Branches 412 are the line segments joining two Nodes.For example, in FIG. 6 b Playing Piece PP8 has been placed in thePlaying Grid of FIG. 6 a, having ends on Nodes C3 and C5. Playing PiecePP8 forms Path Connectors PC12 and PC13, creating a Contiguous Pathbetween Anchors C6, D3, and 92.

Another embodiment of the invention which is shown in FIG. 7, is similarto the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 except that there areone or more Nodes are marked by some new indicia 700 to indicate thatthey are Barrier Nodes. The object of this game is the same as in thegame of FIG. 1, but in the case of this embodiment the four edges of theBarrier Nodes may not act as Path Connectors and the Playing Pieces maynot overlap any Barrier Nodes.

Another embodiment of the invention which is shown in FIG. 8, is similarto the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 except that there areone or more edges of the square cell Nodes that are missing or marked byyet different indicia 800 to indicate that they are Barrier Branches.The object of this game is the same as in the game of FIG. 1, but in thecase of this embodiment a Barrier Branch cannot form a Path Connectorand no Playing Piece may be placed across a Barrier Branch.

FIG. 9 shows still another embodiment of the invention wherein thePlaying Pieces are not linear sets of Nodes of different lengths buthave other shapes comprising different numbers of Nodes.

In yet other embodiments of the present invention, the Playing Grid maytake the form of an array of hexagonal cells as shown in FIG. 10 a, anarray of circular cells arranged hexagonally as shown in FIG. 10 b, oreven an array of indicia interconnected by branches arranged hexagonallyas shown in FIG. 10 c. It should be appreciated that, while the PlayingGrids of FIG. 1, FIG. 5 a, FIG. 6 a, FIG. 10 a, FIG. 10 b, and FIG. 10 care the preferred varieties, the pattern and arrangement of a PlayingGrid is not bounded by these examples and may take on a variety ofasymmetric and other exotic forms. In FIG. 10 d, the Playing Grid doesnot contain a single repeating shape, but both octagonal and squarecells. In FIG. 10 e, the Playing Grid resembles that of FIG. 5 a butthere is no point of contact between Nodes. Here Branches are assumed tolink Nodes that are horizontally and vertically adjacent. The PlayingPieces associated will also adopt the forms of these Playing Grids, andpossibly others as seen in FIG. 9.

While the present invention has been described in detail with referenceto the preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood to thoseskilled in the art that various changes, substitutions and alterationscan be made hereto without departing from the scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims.

1. A puzzle game comprising a Playing Grid and a plurality of PlayingPieces, said Playing Grid comprising: an array of Nodes wherein a subsetof said Nodes are designated as Anchors; a network of Branchesinterconnecting said nodes; wherein a Playing Piece is a singlegeometric arrangement that corresponds to a contiguous pattern of Nodes;wherein the object or goal of the game is to place the Playing Piecesupon the Playing Grid by laying each of said Playing Pieces directlyover a Contiguous Path of Nodes and Branches in order to connect all ofthe Anchors with a single connected Contiguous Path.
 2. The puzzle gameof claim 1, wherein the Playing Grid takes the form of an array of cellsdesignating Nodes, a Branch is an edge common to two Nodes, and thePlaying Pieces are geometrical arrangements of one or more cells.
 3. Thepuzzle game of claim 2, wherein the Playing Pieces are furtherrestricted to being superimposed over the Nodes of the Playing Gridwithout crossing over any Anchors or other Playing Pieces.
 4. The puzzlegame of claim 3, wherein the Playing Pieces are still further restrictedto staying within the edges and pattern of the Playing Grid, so thateach Node contained in the Playing Piece is directly superimposed on aNode of the Playing Grid.
 5. The puzzle game of claim 4, wherein asubset of those Nodes that are not Anchors are further designated asBarrier Nodes and further wherein the Playing Pieces are prohibited fromcrossing over any such Barrier Nodes.
 6. The puzzle game of claim 5,wherein a subset of Branches of the Playing Grid are further designatedas Barrier Branches and further wherein the Playing Pieces areprohibited from crossing over any such Barrier Branches.
 7. The puzzleGame of claim 1 wherein the Playing Grid takes the form of an array ofcircular Nodes, a Branch is a point common to two Nodes, and the PlayingPieces are geometrical arrangements of circular cells.
 8. The puzzlegame of claim 7, wherein the Playing Pieces are further restricted tobeing superimposed over the circular Nodes of the Playing Grid withoutcrossing over any Anchors or other Playing Pieces.
 9. The puzzle game ofclaim 8, wherein the Playing Pieces are still further restricted tostaying within the edges and pattern of the Playing Grid, so that eachsemicircular end of each Playing Piece aligns with a semicircularportion of a circular Node and each Node contained in the Playing Pieceis directly superimposed on a Node of the Playing Grid.
 10. The puzzlegame of claim 9, wherein a subset of those Nodes that are not Anchorsare further designated as Barrier Nodes and further wherein the PlayingPieces are prohibited from crossing over any such Barrier Nodes.
 11. Thepuzzle game of claim 10, wherein a subset of Branches of the PlayingGrid are further designated as Barrier Branches and further wherein thePlaying Pieces are prohibited from crossing over any such BarrierBranches.
 12. The puzzle Game of claim 1 wherein the Playing Grid takesthe form of an array of indicia representing Nodes, a Branch is a linejoining two Nodes, and the Playing Pieces are a geometrically arrangedset of said indicia.
 13. The puzzle game of claim 12, wherein thePlaying Pieces are further restricted to being vertically orhorizontally superimposed over the circular Nodes of the Playing Gridwithout crossing over any Anchors or other Playing Pieces.
 14. Thepuzzle game of claim 13, wherein the Playing Pieces are still furtherrestricted to staying within the edges and pattern of the Playing Grid,so that each semicircular end of each Playing Piece aligns with asemicircular portion of a circular Node and each Node contained in thePlaying Piece is directly superimposed on a Node of the Playing Grid.15. The puzzle game of claim 14, wherein a subset of those Nodes thatare not Anchors are further designated as Barrier Nodes and furtherwherein the Playing Pieces are prohibited from crossing over any suchBarrier Nodes.
 16. The puzzle game of claim 15, wherein a subset ofBranches of the Playing Grid are further designated as Barrier Branchesand further wherein the Playing Pieces are prohibited from crossing overany such Barrier Branches.
 17. A method for playing a puzzle gamecomprising the steps of: providing a Playing Grid, said Playing Gridcomprising an array of Nodes wherein a subset of said Nodes aredesignated as Anchors and comprising a network of Branchesinterconnecting said Nodes; providing a plurality of Playing Pieces;placing a Playing Piece on the Playing Grid; creating a Contiguous Paththat contains all of the said Anchors; wherein a Playing Piece is asingle geometric arrangement that corresponds to a contiguous pattern ofNodes; wherein the object or goal of the game is to place the PlayingPieces upon the Playing Grid by laying each of said Playing Piecesdirectly over a Contiguous Path of Nodes and Branches in order toconnect all of the Anchors with a single connected Contiguous Path. 18.A method for creating a puzzle game comprising the steps of: providing aPlaying Grid, said Playing Grid comprising an array of Nodes wherein asubset of said Nodes are designated as Anchors and comprising a networkof Branches interconnecting said Nodes; providing a plurality of PlayingPieces; designating a subset of Nodes on the Playing Grid as Anchors;wherein a Playing Piece is a single geometric arrangement thatcorresponds to a contiguous pattern of Nodes; wherein the object or goalof the game is to place the Playing Pieces upon the Playing Grid bylaying each of said Playing Pieces directly over a Contiguous Path ofNodes and Branches in order to connect all of the Anchors with a singleconnected Contiguous Path.